Deep reef research with a submersible: Living pleurotomarian slit-shells

Deep reef research with a submersible: Living pleurotomarian slit-shells

Author:

RoseSmyth, MC

Abstract:

An innovative programme using the submersible PC8-B has been in operation at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Jamaica, for the past two years. This facility is provided by Research Submersibles Ltd, Grand Cayman, through the Discovery Bay Research Foundation. The programme is unique in two important ways. First it provides observation, photographic, and collection capabilities to -244 m at extremely low cost ($200/hr); secondly the programme allows intensive and repetitive studies of known sites over relatively long periods of time. RSL also operates submersibles in the adventure/educational recreation market in Grand Cayman and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Research can be catered for at both these locations. All submersibles are equipped with a 91 cm domed anterior viewport and 9 smaller portholes, a manipulator, external camera and strobe, and an array of powerful lights. Eighteen different biology and geology projects have been initiated since the start of the programme. This paper describes the submersible operations and presents observations on living pleurotomarian slit-shells. The focus of the study is on gaining new information on an evolutionarily-ancient species, or so-called living fossil, with the view to explaining its persistence.